Pro- Nepal Maoist group holds street protest in Kolkata

Kolkata, May 11 (ANI): Activists of the All India Nepalese Unity Forum (AINUF), a pro-Nepal Maoist group, took to the streets in Kolkata on Sunday to protest the reinstatement of army chief General Rookmangud Katwal by Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav.

General Katwal was sacked by Nepal’s Maoist Prime Minister Prachanda.

Prachanda resigned after President Ram Baran Yadav blocked his decision to sack the army chief, leading to an eruption of protests by Prachanda’s

supporters.

“We are protesting against the decision of President Yadav to General Katawal.

This is an unconstitutional act. There is a conspiracy taking place to disorganize Nepal under military rule, which we are protesting,” said Bedmaya Upadhyay, a central committee member, AINUF.

The agitators also demanded President Yadav to call Prachanda to resume his duty as

Prime Minister.

Prachanda resigned after President Ram Baran Yadav blocked his decision to sack the army chief, leading to an eruption of protests by Prachanda’s supporters.

“We are protesting against the decision of President Yadav to reinstate military commander. This is an unconstitutional act. There is a conspiracy taking place to disorganize Nepal under military rule, which we are protesting,” said Bedmaya Upadhyay, a central committee member, AINUF.

The agitators also demanded Yadav to call Prachanda to resume his duty as Prime Minister.

Nepal was roiled in crisis after Prime Minister Prachanda resigned on May 4, over his decision to sack General Katawal was vetoed by President Ram Baran Yadav.

Relations between the army and the government were strained earlier this year when the military resisted integrating the former guerrillas, saying they are politically indoctrinated.

Prachanda argued that the integration of the rebels was stipulated by the peace agreement.

Prachanda’s Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist won elections last year after ending a 10-year insurgency under a 2006 accord.

The first act of the newly elected parliament last year was to abolish the 240-year-old monarchy

Prachanda’s resignation leaves the country without a functioning government and will delay the process of drafting a Constitution for the nascent republic. (ANI)